Students’ success with hand-made candle company

Sixth Formers selling hand-made candles are now gearing up for the county finals of the Young Enterprise competition, having already won a trophy in the area final.

The students formed their company, Sasindo, as part of the IEC (Inspiration, Endeavour and Community) project that Year 12 students undertake on Wednesday afternoons. They have made candles to sell at trade fairs alongside Young Enterprise teams from other schools across the region. Sasindo was presented with a trophy as runner up in the Best Company category at the area finals in Wellingborough.

Jack said: ‘We have sold over 200 candles and have made a profit and also have some remaining stock. I have been most proud of going to the trade fair at RS Components because we sold a lot there. We originally had the idea of producing a hamper but that was too expensive so that is why we have gone into candle making. We have had quite a lot of expenses as you have to pay for promotional materials and also have a fee to take part in the trade fairs.’

The company decided to sell candles as they can be produced in bulk and can be made season specific. For the Christmas market at Brooke Weston the team produced ones that smelt of pine cones while a strawberries and cream version was manufactured for Valentine’s Day. They have produced a company report and the team members have learned a great deal from the process.

Chloe said: I have learned that business isn’t as easy as it looks!’. Abbie added: ‘You experience the highs and lows but in the end you do get there. When we came runner up in the area finals it was the best feeling.’ Ross Mulligan said: ‘For me it was learning how to rely on other people’s skills. I like to think of myself as quite well organised. At RS I approached lots of people asking if they wanted to buy candles.’

Ross Freeman added: ‘I have been exercising marketing strategies so that when we were selling at the Christmas market we put ads up on the screens and it was my responsibility to make those. I also produced our report. The Young Enterprise scheme has been a good use of our year.’

If anyone has any candle or tea-light holders that they would like to donate to the team to be used in a ‘Retro Revamp’ collection please give them to Mrs Duguid-Yeomans who will pass them on. 'Something they did amazingly well was write their report, they got great feedback.’ Sasindo will take part in the Young Enterprise county finals on 23rd April at the University of Northampton.